Flights:
Luckily Qantas was having a special on flights to Hawaii. Deborah booked both of us to fly Sydney to Honolulu on 29th October, and fly home on Sunday, 16th November. At that stage we didn't know whether we had a cruise booking, but we decided we could still have a holiday in Hawaii after the conventions even if we missed out on the cruise.
Deborah found on-line booking frustrating until she phoned Qantas and discovered that she couldn't book Qantas one way and Jetstar the other to get the cheapest possible fares. So it's Qantas both ways, for a total cost of $2,990.96 AUD for both of us.
Pan-Pacific - 30th October to 2nd November:
We were able to register on-line for the Pan-Pacific Convention, which is an event for male barbershoppers living on the Pacific Rim. Sounds of Aloha Chorus are the Convention hosts. The Convention is being held at the Historic Hawaii Theatre.
Jo paid for our registrations -about $430 AUD for both of us. This includes the opportunity to do some classes, so we've put our names down for "Barbershop Music Class 101" and "How to be a Better Singer" on Sunday afternoon, 2nd November.
Looking at the program reminds me that they also have a Mixed Quartet competition, and Double Shot (a quartet with members from both Circular Keys Chorus and Sydney Harmony Chorus) is also competing - a third reason to cheer!
Ala-Moana Hotel - 29th October to 2nd November:
The Ala-Moana Hotel is the Headquarters Hotel for the Men's Convention, so we've booked a room there using Jo's credit card. No on-line bookings, but we sent a fax and got a confirmation back, so we should be okay. It should work out to about $375 AUD each for four nights.
Sweet Adelines Convention - 4th November to 8th November:
We each registered on-line for the Sweet Adelines Convention. Cost each is $180 USD (can't remember what it was in AUD). We've also bought tickets for the Showcase on 4th November, which features Salt, Harborlites, a combined Japanese chorus and Polynesian entertainment. The Convention is at the Hawaii Convention Centre. Note to self: must remember to book for the Coronet Club Show on 7th November, as well.
Holiday Inn Waikiki - 2nd November to 8th November and 15th November:
We've booked in at the Holiday Inn Waikiki for the duration of the Sweet Adelines Convention, and also the night after our cruise before we fly home. It will cost us about $580 AUD each for 7 nights.
Harmony in Hawaii cruise:
This cruise around the Hawaiian islands is on the Pride of America, owned by NCL. We put our names down for a standard cabin but they were booked out, so after much anxious waiting we were very glad to be offered a balcony cabin (BA10956) for about $2230 AUD each. (See picture, courtesy of http://www.ncl.com/.) Our welcome package should arrive in the mail any day now.
The cruise includes barbershop classes in either the morning or the evening, so that we can still do tours as we visit each island (though we don't have details of the class timetable yet, so it's hard to plan). The faculty are Kim Hulbert and Cindy Hansen, Zing! and Vocal Spectrum.
Jo and Deborah had a lot of fun this week visiting the NCL site to decide which tours we'd like to register for. Flying over a volcano in a helicopter is definitely on the list of must do's. We're just waiting for more information about classes before we start booking the tours.
Then it's just a matter of waiting: 112 sleeps to go!
